Cynopsis: Kids!

02/12/08

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, February 12, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

The animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be released in movie theaters on August 15, prior to bowing as a half-hour animated series on Cartoon Network and TNT, according to the series to www.starwars.com , the official Star Wars website.  The project is a partnership between Lucasfilm Ltd, Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc.  The international release dates for the movie are TBA.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Starz Media have joined to develop and produce a series of Raggedy Adventures movies, starring the famous duo, Raggedy Ann & Andy, who are getting a makeover.  Based on Simon & Schuster’s Raggedy Ann and Me! books, the movies will be produced by Film Roman, a unit of Starz, and penned by writer Joe Ansolabehere (Recess, Hey Arnold, Rugrats).  TV sales will be handed by Starz Media, while Starz’s Anchor Bay Entertainment takes the DVD releases.  Additionally, Russ Berrie will create a new doll line based on the new Raggedy Ann & Andy look.  United Media is developing a full licensing program to support Raggedy Ann & Me!, and plans to release merchandise in conjunction with the videos, dolls and books this fall 2008.  The original Raggedy Ann & Andy stories were created by Johnny Gruelle.

If you are looking for Indiana Jones fans, no doubt you’ll find them up early this Thursday, February 14, celebrating Paramount’s exclusive debut of the first movie trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull during the 8-9a hour of ABC’s Good Morning America.  Right after that, the trailer will be in movie theaters and viewable at www.indianajones.com and www.movies.yahoo.com .

MORE KIDS STUFF

Cartoon Network acquires the US rights to the anime series Bakugan, which will premiere on the network on Sunday, February 24 at 9p.  Based on Bakugan (in Japanese “baku” means to explode, and “gan” means sphere), a strategic card game from Sega Toys and Spin Master, the series revolves around the kids of the world who one day begin finding cards coming from the sky.  Each card features a different character, which in turn corresponds to an alternate world where war has broken out. Produced by Sega Toys, Spin Master, Nelvana Enterprises, TMS Entertainment, Japan Vistec Inc. and Sega Corporation, and animated by Japan Vistec and TMS Entertainment, the series currently airs in Japan and Canada.

The mischievous animated duo Edgar & Ellen will make their way further around the world with new broadcast deals.  Edgar & Ellen will be seen on Cartoon Network Latin America, under a new deal brokered by Pi Distribution, and Cake Distribution completes an English/Gaelic-language pact with TG4 (Ireland).  The animated Edgar & Ellen series is produced by Star Farm Productions and Bardel Entertainment in association with YTV.

Beyond announces that the animated series Milly, Molly has gotten the go ahead for a second season (13×30), bringing the total to 26×30.  The series is a co-production between Pacific & Beyond, animation studio Scrawl Studios; Milly Molly Holdings and with the participation of the Media Development Authority of Singapore.  Beyond Distribution will again serve as worldwide TV broadcast and DVD/video distributor for Milly, Molly season two.  The series is based on the Milly, Molly books, by author Gill Pittar and illustrator Cris Morell, which have sold some 3.5 million copies worldwide.

CYNOPSIS KIDS GOES TO KIDSCREEN SUMMIT  – Leading into this week’s conference …

Toei Animation Co. is set to premiere new episodes of its animated series, Master Hamsters at KidScreen Summit this week in NYC.  Toei will make 26×30 episodes of Master Hamsters available for broadcast sale at the market.  After passing the Master exam, each hamster receives a badge that transforms them into Master Hamsters and allowing them to speak like humans and solve problems.  Master Hamsters currently airs Sundays on Japan’s TV Asahi Network.

Cookie Jar Entertainment inks a multi-show home video distribution deal with NCircle Entertainment.  Under the terms of the deal, NCircle will license and distribute three Cookie Jar properties, Magi-Nation, Will & Dewitt and Hurray For Huckle!, and two new titles now in production.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Adness Entertainment inks new licenses for the kids’ property Crack & Bonk, including a new cellular deal with Televisa.  Under the deal, Televisa will distribute downloadable cellular content including short-form animations and wall paper images via its website ( www.esmas.com ), as well as promoting the property via its cable and terrestrial channels with animated vignettes (produced by Adness Japan), and through its magazines.  Adness completes other Crack & Bonk deals for: Mexico-based Scribe (notebooks debuts in April); Mexico’s national newspaper Reforma debuts a Crack & Bonky comic strip in March; Bondifiesta (developing chewing gum); PIC (T-shirts, pajamas, underwear); PTI (cell phone charms); and MAE (back to school); DTM (plush line); Concast (cellular games); Doobalo (socks) among others.  Deals are imminent in categories such as sleepwear, key chains, jeans, hats, party goods, snacks/cookies and expanded mobile phone deals in Europe.

Marvel Entertainment partners with Pottery Barn Kids, for the recently launched exclusive collection of Spider-Man merchandise in the US and Canada.  Designed specifically for Pottery Barn kids, the Spider-Man line includes bedding, lighting, play furniture, room decor and accessories.

Granada Ventures, the merchandising/licensing/publishing division of ITV plc, has tapped Sababa Toys as the master toy licensee across all English-speaking territories for the Girls 5-12 targeted Bell Sara property.  Sababa Toys plans to introduce its toy line, which will include action figures and games, in fall 2008.  Additionally, worldwide publishing deal is imminent for the property.

Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) secures several new partners for its animated property Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.  CNE grants merchandise rights for Foster’s in the US market to: Horizon Imports (hosiery, socks, leg and arm warms); Boston America (personal Care, lip balms, tinned mints); Freeze (junior/tween T-shirts); and Design International Group (D.I.G.) (stationery, notebooks, pens).  Previous deals for the property include Mighty Fine, Loungefly, E.S. Originals, Franco Manufacturing and H.E.R.

Glu Mobile Inc is set to publish a mobile game based on the upcoming Warner Bros. live-action Speed Racer movie, which is directed/produced by the Wachowski’s (The Matrix trilogy), with producer Joel Silver and will be released May 9.  Released in April, the Speed Racer mobile game marks the first title Glu develops/publishes under its partnership with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.  In addition to the mobile game, Glu will publish additional mobile content including wallpapers, ringtones, animated screensavers, voice tones and ringbacks.

Off topic but since 25%+ of our readers use a blackberry, this may be of interest if you are using a RIM Blackberry:  We’ve been experiencing problems since approx 3pm ET yesterday getting and receiving emails, and this is what our provider is telling us:

Mailtrust’s Managed Exchange service is experiencing issues with the Blackberry Enterprise Servers (BES) that are affecting the activation of the Blackberry services, sending/receiving of email and synchronization of personal information management data on Blackberry devices.

 

Research In Motion (RIM) has announced an ongoing BlackBerry infrastructure outage that is affecting Blackberry users on all North American wireless carrier networks, which includes limited connectivity to Mailtrust’s BlackBerry Enterprise Servers.  Research In Motion is unable to provide an estimated time of service restoral and we will provide further updates as more information is made available.

 

As Research In Motion begins to restore services within their BlackBerry infrastructure, users will experience a delayed delivery of their messages to their BlackBerry handheld devices, and messages pending to be sent from their BlackBerry handheld devices will be delivered or may need to be resent.

 
EXECUTIVE MOVES

Entertainment Rights appoints Andrew Kerr as Executive director, Consumer Products and Marketing, International.  Kerr will be responsible for further developing and overseeing the group’s strategy and brands and content portfolio for the UK and International territories (excluding the US and Canada).  Based in London, Kerr takes up his new post on March 26, 2008 and will report directly to Jane Smith Chief Commercial and Creative Director.  He had been EVP/Global Licensing & Marketing Ragdoll Worldwide Ltd, as well as a member of its Board of Directors.

Taffy Entertainment, the worldwide distribution and brand management arm of the MoonScoop Group, upps several in its Consumer Products and Marketing Group:

• David DiLorenzo moves up to VP/Consumer Products & Marketing.   Based in LA, DiLorenzo will report to Cynthia Money, President/Worldwide Consumer Products & Marketing.  With DiLorenzo focused on the US market, Money will now direct more of her energies on growing the overseas business.
• Marc Grossmann is upped to Sr. Director/Worldwide Corporate Communications.  Maintaining his LA base, the charming Grossmann expands his role to include coordinating European initiatives with the Paris team, as well as overseeing all corporate messaging, advertising, publicity and events.  Grossman reports to Money.
• In Creative Services, Paris-based Armelle Madelin is promoted to Sr. Director/Worldwide Creative Services, reporting to Money, while in LA, David Aragon becomes Sr. Manager/Creative Services, North America.  Aragon will report to Madelin.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  Bubbles, Chuchie, Do and Aqua are nicknames for the members of what popular girl group? THE CHEETAH GIRLS (Disney Channel Original Movie)   Kudos to:  David Stern-BARD Entertainment/NY; John May- Cartoon Network-Adult Swim/GA; Deborah Skolnik/NY; Sara Resnick-WLIW/NY; Chip Beaman-Soundelux Design Music Group/Hollywood; Kimberly Luce-Disney Channel/Spain

Today’s Trivia Question: On the TV series Phil of the Future, what is the name of the school which the Diffys attend? ( Click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you’ve been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can’t be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later — Gwen
Gwen Billings for Cynopsis: Kids!
02.12.08

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JOB OPENING: ACCT EXEC (3)/Ent. Studios, Inc/NY, LA, CHIC:. Motivated sales talent to mng station sales in first-run TV synd. Strong leaders w/ except’l presentation skills. Time mngmnt & exc PC skills a must. Res to: [email protected] (2/19)

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JOB OPENING: REGIONAL COORDINATOR /LIFETIME NY: Support the sales efforts of the Distribution and Field Marketing staff and service our affiliated cable systems. Apply at: http://www.mylifetime.com/about/jobs.html   (2/19)

JOB OPENING: DIR MKTG/G4: 5+ yrs media mktg exp; track record of successful cmpg launches; highly strat & creative pers; exc writing skills; resp for media plans across all platforms (G4’s & bought media) [email protected] (2/19)

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WINTER AND SPRING INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at [email protected] .

SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:   PRGRM DVLPMNT & ACQUISITIONS INTERN/Boston: Support prgrm dvlpmnt & acquisitions area of NESN. For college credit. For full description see NESN.com. Send resume:  [email protected] “Prog Devel Intern” in subject line. (2/16)

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SPRING INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PR /NYC: Boutique agency (kids TV, toys, CE, licensing) seeks smart, mature, highly-organized, communications-oriented intern. College JRs or SRs only. Apply to [email protected]  (2/13)

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SITUATION WANTED:  20+ yrs exp in sales, marketing, strategic planning, brand mgmt, product development and marketing.  [email protected] (2/13)

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